Washer box for coal and the like



June 8, 1937. B. NORTON 2,083,393

' WASHER BOX FOR COAL AND THE LIKE I Filed March 14, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 oooooooooo ovoooooooo 000 000 000 000 00 o- 1? 'flerfram Mrfon wym a HIS ATTORNEYS June 8, 1937 B..NORTON WASHERBOX FOR COAL AND THE LIKE Filed March 14, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w J I I I I 3 I I! III! n m a j H 1 o 3 2 6 k w y 1 5 Z W Z. We; o 0 O HIS ATTORNEYS Patented June 8, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WASHER BOX Eon. COAL AND THE LIKE Application March 14, 1934, Serial No. 715,553

In Great Britain October 18, 1933 9 Claims. (01. 209-496) g resting or releasing the flow and are designed This invention relates to washer boxes for coal and the like of the type in which separation of the refuse, which constitutes the specifically heavier material, from the remainder, Which is generally coal and constitutes the specifically lighter material, is effected by causing water to rise and fall in pulsations through perforated plating on which the material to be washed rests. The invention is concerned with washer boxes of this type in which the rate of discharge of the refuse or shale is controlled automatically in accordance with the depth of the refuse bed. As a rule such automatic control is efiected through the medium of a float which sinks through the coal that rests upon the refuse, and which is connected through a relay mechanism to means by which the flow of refuse through a discharge opening in the washing compartment proper is arrested or retarded.

In my prior Patent 1,806,493, issued May 19, 1931, I have described and claimed an arrestin'g mechanism in the form of an adjustable barrier or weir which co-operates with a shelf projecting outwards from. the lower edge of the discharge opening for the refuse. The use of such a weir in combination with a float leads to excellent separation of the coal from the shale or other refuse, but I have found that in practice some coal still tends to pass through the discharge opening with the refuse.

According to the invention, in a washer box in which there is a mechanism operative to arrest or release the flow of refuse through a discharge opening in accordance with the depth of the refuse bed, separate means are provided for retarding the flow of refuse outside the discharge opening when such flow starts. At the start of this flow I have found that a reduction in densityor pressure is produced in the refuse bed in the washing compartment proper, and that this reduction affects the accurate operation of any float that is employed for controlling the operation of the washer box. Moreover, the reduction in pressure also results in some of the 'coal that is immediately above the refuse bed being drawn downwards and passing outwards with the refuse. This is prevented completely, or to a very large extent, if the flow of the refuse is retarded in accordance with the invention.

In the preferred construction I use a shelf projecting outwards from the bottom of the discharge opening and provide means for retarding the flow of the refuse across this shelf. It is to be understood that such means are entirely separate from any means used for arto act as a brake when the flow has begun. Preferably a hinged flap is provided above the shelf to press downwards on the outgoing refuse reference to the accompanying drawings, in'

which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a portion of the washer box embodying the invention;

will now be described by way of example with I H Fig. 2 is a sectionalv view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional'view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are diagrammatic'views illustrating the movement of shale from the washer box.

The coal to be washed is fed into the box I0 through an inlet chute II and passes onto a perforated bed l2 on which it is agitated by water pulsating through the bed. The coal and refuse separate into layers, the coal passing out of the. box by an outlet at the opposite end and the refuse passing through an aperture I3, the depth of which is controlled by an adjustable plate I4. A shelf 55 extends outwards from the base of this aperture and an adjustable barrier or weir I6, in the form of a sector of a cylinder pivot-' ally mounted to rock about an axis l I, co-operates with'the end of the shelf. In the full line position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the weir effectively prevents the outflow of refuse through the aperture I3. I

When, however, the weir is moved into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4, the refuse can flow through the aperture I3, across the shelf l5, and over the edge of the weir. It then drops into a refuse compartment 23, from which it is the refuse 24 over the shelf. l and to reduce to a minimum the risk of coal passingito therefuse compartment with the refuse, a flap 25,- hinged at 26 to a plate 21, is provided to rest on the outflowing-refuse. The outer edge of this V r 3. In a jig washer, the combination of flap is c'onnected'to a rod 28, which is hinged at its upper end to a leverllpivote'd at 30 and.

' carrying an adjustable' balance weight 3l.' By

. adjustment of the weight 3| the pressure exertedby the flap 25 on the outgoing refuse can-1 i so be regulated The rod 28 passes upwards throughatu'be 32 in the coal inletchutei l l. A

bracket 33 on which the lever ZS-ispivoted at 1 30 is fixed to the tube 32. 'I'he rod is'provided with an adjustablercollar 34 having threaded.

relation with the rod 28, and when this comes 'into contact with the bracket":33 the rodZ 8can-f not move downwards any' further. ."The upward; movement of the rod .28 is limited by anjadjustable stop .35 carriedby the bracket 33:"and' placedinthepath of; the lever 29.

In order to illustrate the effect produced by J means. of the novel-*mechanism theformation. assumed by the refuse .invarious circumstances is illustrated diagrammatically in Figs.;6, '7; and8.

Fig; 6 shows'the adjustable weir 16 in its highest position; The; refuse has built up on the shelf l5, and in so doing ha s 'increased the density at the point 36. Whenthe pivoted .weir is moved ;downwardsfl;under the control ofthe 'float 2i contacting with'the' bed 2-4, some of the refusef on the shelf is .immediatelydischarged; with the,

result that the pressure, in the adjacentgpart of the refuse bed *is; reduced. Thepositionim- "illustratedin Fig.- 7. "Without the flap 25 a de- 4 refuse bed is slower than that-of the refuse on pression or hollow31 tends to form in the refuse the shelf, I5. My flap ZS acts'as-a brake on the flow of the refuse passing overthe shelf" I 5. in V such a jmanner; asto prevent. the formation-of:

such a'depres'sion. thus providing a refu'se bed of uniform depth, wherebyaccurate operation of the float is attained anda 'material reduction'in the coal'. lost with the shale. i

j 'Without .further elaboration theforegoing will; so-fully explain myinvention that others may,

by applying:current-knowledge, readily adapt, the

same for use undervarious conditions of service. Iclaimz vf 1 z; 1. A- deviceof the typedescribed comprising'a :washer box having. a gate controlled outletopena ing for-refuse separated from: the coal; ajfioat controlled mechanism for opening and closing the gate, alrefuse retarding plate pivotally 'connectedwith thebox and arrangedltopress down wardly onr thei refuse passing through said op'en ing, means for varyingthe effective pressure of,

' said plate, s'aidimeans being independent of said float controlled mechanism. g

'2. A device'of the typedescribed-comprising. a washer box'forcoal. having an Ioutlet opening for refuse separated from the coal; a shelf car-- ried byihiev washer. box and arranged :to carry the. refuse .passing through saidopening, a movable gate positioned at the discharge edge ,of said shelf for contr olling'the movement of refuse delivered totthe shelf, a float controlledmech'ae misinfor operating'the gate, the float beingactuated by the 'bed of refuse separated from' the coal, a flap hingedlyconnected with the" box and extending over the shelf in spaced relation there- 7 with', saidfla'p being arranged to'press downopening, a shelf disposed outside said discharge" wardly on the refusepassing over the shelf, to retard the movement of the same, and means for varying the pressure of the flap upon the refuse,

'saidflap and said means being independent of V saidfloat controlled mechanism. v

a wash ing chamber formed with a' refusedischarge opening, .a shelf positioned outside the discharge opening for-receiving refuse passing therethrough, a flap adjustably and hingedly connected with the-washer above said discharge opening andar ranged to press' downwardly on the refuse passing across the shelf,pa weighted balance lever, and an operating connection between the weighted balance lever andthe free side of the flap.

: 4; In-ajig washer, the combination of a washing chamber' formed with a refuse discharge 7 opening,- a shelf disposed outside said discharge opening to receive refuse passing therethrough,

opening to receive refusepassing therethrough, meansfor arresting or releasing'the flowofref use through said;discharge opening andfronr said shelf a flap in hingedconnectionwith the washer, .3

said fiap being mounted above. said shelfand being-adapted to press downwards on refuse on said she1f, and means for controlling the downward-pressure exerted by said flap. a I :mediately after the lowering of the weir -,l61is :6.;In' a: jigwasher, the:-combination claimed :3 in claim 5, -wher'ein saidcontrolling meanscomprise 1 a"; weighted balance lever and means :conr meeting said lever to -the outer or free endaof saidyflap a 7. In; a jig washer, the combination of awash- $9 g ing chamber provided with a refuse discharge opening, a shelf to receive refuse from the opening for passage thereover, means for-arresting or releasingthe fiow'of'refusethroushthe opening and from thefshelf, and means-to yieldably press. upon the refuseasit passesover the 'shelf for controlling the flow thereof through the opening .50 as to maintain a refuse-bed of uniform depth withinthe chamber.- I

8. In atjig'washer, thecombinattion of a wash- $0 ing chamber provided with a refuse dischargef opening,supporting-means'to receive the refuse from the opening'for passage thereover, mecha- -'nisminclud ing} float means within the chamber and means exteriorly thereof toarrest or release .;5

the flow of refuse through the opening and from the shelf in accordance with the depth of the refuse bed in said chamber; yielding means to bearv upon the refuse as it passes over. the

:supporting means forcontrolling the flow .thereof iio throughrthe opening so asto maintain a refuse. ;bed of uniform depth'within the chamber.

9.. In a jigwasher, the combination ofa washing chamber provided with a refuse discharge opening, a shelf to-receivethe refuse from the oli .opening for passage thereover, float actuated means for arresting or releasing the 410w; of refuse through the opening and from theshelf in accordance with the'depth of the-refuse bed in the chamben-and means to yieldab1y;bear. -J0 Cuponthe refuseasit passes over the shelf for' controlling the flow thereof through the opening so as to maintain a refuse bed of uniform'depth within the'chamber. BERW NQR'I'ONg; 15 

